Return bend



Apri113,1937. F; E, KEY 2,076,850

RETURN BEND Filed March 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April13,1937. F. E. KE'Y. Y 4 2,076,850 i RETURN BEND Filed March 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. E. KEY

RETRN BEND April 13, 1937.

Filed March 15, v1955 5 sheets-sheet s F. E. KEY

0 4 w @na/M, w m 2 A W//IMLIIWWWW M IIIIIII RETURN BEND Filed March 15, 1955 AprilV 13, 1937. P E. KEY 2,076,856

RETURN BEND Filed March l5, 1955 5 Sheets-SheetI 5 55 Freier/6F15. 7)? 9% I y atented pr.. 13, i937 UNITED STATES 2,076,859 RETURN BEND Frederick E. Key, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Key Company, East St. Louis, Ill., a corporation of Missouri Application March 15, 1935, serial No. 11,216

3 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to return bends forming passages between the ends of tubes in oil stills which are subjected to very high temperatures and very high pressures.

return bend adapted to be attached to the adjacent ends of adjacent tubes and having a passage communicating with passages opening laterally from the tubes, the parts of'thereturn bend being constructed and arranged so that4 they will withstand the-very high temperatures and very high pressures to which they are subjected when in use and will, at the same time,v

maintain leak-proof joints. i

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved return bend having openings in alinement with the tubes to which the return bend is attached and removable seals for said openings which, when in service, maintain leakproof joints and which may be removed without detaching the return bend from the tubes to permit the tubes to be cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved return bend having means in' connection therewith for locating the parts in proper relative relationship to form a passage from one tube to the other.

Other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in which-' Fig. 1 is an outer end elevation of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a view looking toward one of the edges of the device that is shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the return bend.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view approfximately on the vline 5 5 of Fig. 4. t

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on-the line Ii-Ii of Fig. 4. l

Fig. 7 is an outer end elevation of a variation of the invention.

is shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view looking toward one of the edges of the device that is shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 55 Fig. 13 is a view partly in section and partly An object of the invention is to provide al Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the return bend that in elevation of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line |4-I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 illustrates a' device for removing the closure plug from the end of the return bend.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs.- l to 5, inclusive. a tubular section I is attached to each of the still tubes 2. Each section I is screwed on the end of a tube 2 after which the ends of the tubes are rolled or `expanded into interna] grooves 3 inthe sections I, thus providing a rigid'attachment and a leak-proof joint. The insidev diameter of the sections I is the same as the inside diameter of the tubes 2. Each of the sections I has a laterally extended lug 4 and beyond the lug's 4 each of said sections I is formed with a lateral radially inclined opening 5.

A connecting member 6 has a pairof spaced openings through which the tubular sections I extend, the peripheral surfaces of the sections I and the inner walls of said openings through the members 6 being smoothly ground to provide leakproof joints. The member 6 has an opening I `through the central part thereof, the ends of which are .in communication and registration with the respective openings 5 when the member 6 is tted on the tubular sections I. Each of the tubular sections I has a tapered portion 8 fitting in correspondingly tapered portions 9 ofthe openings through the member 6 to locate the sections I and the member t in proper position in which the opening 'I has its ends in communication with the respective openings 5. The connecting member 6 is formed with a pair of spaced flanges II) between which the lugs 4 extend. Thus, the lugs 4 cooperatev with the anges I0 to bring the passages 5 and 'I in communication with each. other when the parts are assembled and to prevent the Vtubes from twisting.

The outer ends ofi-the tubular sections I are .threaded and a sleeve II is screwed on each of said sections. A tapered sealing glandA I2 extends into a tapered recess I3 in the outer portion of the member 6 around each tubular section I. Each gland I2 is formed with van externally threaded circumferential ange I4 on its outer end against which thesleeves II are screwed to force the glands I2 into the tapered recesses I3 and into tight sealing engagement with the walls o f said recesses and the peripheral walls ot the sections I to form a leak-proof joint.

.The outer end of each section I is formed 55 with an annular groove I5 in which a sealing ring I6 is seated. A plug I1 is extended into the outer end of each section I and has a circumferential flange I8 provided with a groove I9 5 receiving the outer end or edge of the corresponding ring I6. The outer wall of the flange I8 is curved and a correspondingly shaped sealing ring 2| is mounted on the wall 20 and clamped "thereonby a nut 22 screwed into the outer end of the sleeve II. Thus, the outer'end of each tubular section I is provided with a i leak-proof closure that will withstand the high pressures andv the high temperatures to which the device is subjected. 'Ihe outer end of each plug .I1 beyond the nut 22 includes a head 23 adapted to be engaged by the fork 24 of a detaching tool 25 (Fig. 16). The detaching tool 25Qhas a collar 26 rigid thereon and inwardly from said collar a' plunger 21, which may be 20 driven against the collar 26 to loosen or withdraw the plug I1 when the nut 22 is loosened. After the sleeve is removed, an internally threaded member of conventional construction may bescrewed on the threaded flange I4 and 25 against the outer end of the member 6 to withdraw the gland I2 from the socket I3.

The sleeves have holes 28 through which any leakage may drain and through which thej sealing rings I6 may be observed and inspected.

In the construction shown in Figs. '1 to 12, inclusive, the walls ofw the still tubes 29 are relatively very thick in comparison with the inside diameter of said tubes to withstand very high pressures and very high temperatures. The tubes 29 have conical shoulders 3|] thereon which telescope into correspondingly tapered openings 3| in a connecting member 32. The tubes 29 have a number of divergent radially inclined holes 33, the outer ends of which open into grooves34 in the connecting member 32, and said grooves open into a transverse opening 35 in the outer ends of the tubular sections I, and 'y similar parts have the same reference numerals applied thereto. l

In the construction shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 15, the tubes 36 have radially inclined holes 31 opening into grooves 38 in the connecting member 39, which is provided with a transverse opening 40 constituting a communication from one tube 36 to the other. Conical shoulders 4| on the tubes 36 fit in correspondingly shaped openings through the connecting member A39 and provide a leak-proof joint. The outer ends of the tubes 36 are externally threaded beyond the connecting member 39. A gland 42 is mounted on each tube 36 and extends into a tapered socket 43 and is pressed into sealing engagement with the wall of the socket and the wall of the tube by a sleeve 44 that is screwed cpa the end of each tube 36 and against the corresponding gland 42. The inner ends of the sleeve nuts 44 are split and after being screwed to position against the gland 42 are clamped by bolts 45 and nuts 46 applied in the manner shown. Each gland 42 has a circumferential flange 41 on its outer end provided with a number of threaded holes 48 through which releasing screws 49 may be screwed into abutting contact with the outer end of the connecting member 39 to withdraw and force the glands 42 from thesockets 43 after the sleeve nuts 44 have been removed.

The elements that close the outer ends of the tubes 36 are the same as the elements that close the outer ends of the tubular .sections and like reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts.

This return bend will withstand the Very high temperatures and very high pressures to which it is subjected when in use. The construction and arrangement of the elements maybe varied in other particulars than those specically illustrated and describedwithout departure from the nature and principle of the invention. I claim:-

1. A return bend for establishing communication between two tubes each having a plurality of inclined openings through the wall thereof comprising a connecting member telescoped on said tubesfand havingI internal grooves in communication with said openings through the walls of said tubes and atransverse passage between said grooves, and means for holding said connecting member in proper position.

2. A return bendy for establishing communication between two tubes each of which has an opening through the vwall thereof for the passage of fluid, comprising an integral connecting membertelescoped on said tubes and having a transverse opening in communication with said openings through the walls of said tubes, a sealing gland on each tube extending into the outer end of the adjacent portion of said connecting member and forming a tight joint between said tube and said connecting member, and a closure for the outer end of each tube having a part thereof screwed on said tube and engaging the outer end of the adjacent gland. o

3. A return bend forestablishing communication between two tubes each of which has a number of openings throughthe Wall thereof location on said tubes and forming a leak-proof l joint between said connecting member and said tubes.

FREnERICK E'. KEY. 

